Hello everyone,

My dog on the odd occasion must forget his social skills!

This morning whilst out walking a medium sized dog approched us and my boy decided he would crouch down as low as possible to the ground and as the dog came closer he sprung up and ran straight up to the other dog and danced around it trying to wind it up I think? He wasn't growling or barking but he did have his hakels up. WHY? He has done this occasionally and it's so odd, apart from that, I think the owner was a bit worried and seem quited relieved when nothing came of it as they has a sniff and both kept on walking.

It's a very odd for him as he is very social and generally he dosen't go up to other dogs on a walk and is never agressive towards other dogs and has never been involved a fight. So why does he have his hakels up? I'm really puzzled, has anybody experienced this before?

Thanks

Sounds to me like he wanted to play with the other dog, not fight it!

My dog does this 'stalking and springing' all the time, often with dogs he knows well too and it's definatley a play manoeuvre as he has never so much as growled at another dog let alone be involved in a fight.

That is reasurring as it does look like he wants to play and seems so excited but was concerned as his hakels were up. Do you think that is normal to have hakels up? I guess he just excited!

Yes, hackles being up just means your dog is aroused in some way - I don't mean sexually! - it just is a heightened emotional response and it could be playing as much as anything else - you'd have to read the other cues to know what it meant in any context.

Excellent, thanks for your advice.

I feel more relaxed about his crouch and spring approach to dogs and I'm sure other dog owners will see he means no harm and just wants to play. I think oneday he'll approach a dog who doesn't want to play and he might get a telling off from them, I'm sure he'll learn from it though.

Cheers!

This is a normal behaviour which unfortunately can cause problems with misunderstanding. This is a feint 'attack' - a challenge, as it were. If the dog on the receiving end is well-socialised and confident, he'll respond  cheerfully and a game will follow. However if the 'victim' is nervous it may well respond with aggression, and you have a fight on your hands.